In only one week we will be attending our last Science Fiction and Fantasy convention of the year - and we can't wait! This will be our first time at Archon in St. Louis and I can already tell it's going to be an awesome con!
I'll be on two panels at Archon 38. You can find me here, at these times:
Saturday 1:30PM Marquette A: What Makes a "Good" Comic
Sunday 12:20PM Marquette A: Marvel vs DC - Movies and Television
Please visit us at bookseller's row and:
Meet Cristi - Gorgeous and incredible Angst spokesmodel
Take a picture with Chryslaenor, full size replica of the giant sword from Angst
Purchase signed copies of Angst and Buried in Angst
Get a free poster of Cristi with your purchase
Sign up to win an Angst T-shirt
I'll be at my table while the dealer's room is open:
Friday 4-8
Saturday 10-6
Sunday 10-2
Archon 38 will be held at:
October 3 - 5, 2014
DoubleTree by Hilton Collinsville
1000 Eastport Plaza Dr
Collinsville, IL 62234
(618) 345-2800
It’s kind of funny, but some of the stuff I’m editing right now at the end of Drowning in Angst, I wrote so long ago I was still putting a double-space after periods. I don’t remember when I stopped doing that, but it may have been three years?
Sometimes writing goes it's own direction and this part of the story expanded far beyond what I had imagined. So, I'm amazed that it is still ending up mostly where I wanted. If I were a better writer, a more experienced writer, I’m sure things would come together more neatly. I have a love-hate relationship with writing from an outline. Who wants to stopper the fresh flow of ideas? So, usually, I don’t. When it feels right, I’ll sometimes write a character or an event into one book with the hope that I can use them later. More madness than science, but so far I’ve been lucky.
Lately, I’ve been really lucky. The rollercoaster of my upcoming third Angst novel, Drowning in Angst, could have been a disaster. There were a lot of loose ends from Buried in Angst I needed to tie up, some I needed to tie off, and new threads I needed to add. About two-thirds of my way through book 3, I was in a panic. My book was like holding the end of a horse’s tail, with strands going everywhere.
That’s when I fell back on the outline. I stopped writing and gave myself time to think. I mapped out where each storyline needed to end, and how it was supposed to get there. Then, I started writing again, and everything fell into place. Heck, with only five chapters left, things are still falling into place! This is definitely the fun part and I’m having a great time, not only with my recent rush of progress, but finding out what happens. The crystal ball (or memndus stone, in my case) isn’t always so very clear.
There are still months to go before release and plenty of work to be done. The alpha team doesn’t have all the chapters, and their replies will require some editing. And I’ve asked my incredibly smart and talented editor Danielle Fine to pencil me in for mid to late October, which will require even more editing. (She’s a ruthless tyrant! Er, I mean, a wonderful and nice editor.) But the good news is, it’s coming, and I can’t wait to share.
Until December 17th hits, there aren’t a lot of movies I’m geeked out about. Fortunately my nerd needs are still going to be met! It looks like television is going to turn me into a couch potato! (Which doesn’t actually require much prodding.) There is more to be excited about this fall than I remember.
Doctor Who – I’ll admit, I’m a closet Whovian. This is worthy of its own blog post, but somehow I can relate to an older man who goes on adventures with attractive companions. (Did I ever mention one of my favorite nicknames is Medic? Coincidence? Hmmm…) As of this blog post, there have been two episodes in the new season with Peter Capaldi. My family saw the first in the theatre and were taken aback by some of it – I was especially wary of the insults thrown back and forth between Clara and The Doctor. It felt a bit forced in “Deep Breath,” but totally worked in the second. I’m really looking forward to the rest of the season.
Agents of SHIELD – The general consensus from my circle is that the show started out interesting, got a little boring, then ended strong. I really like how it tied into Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and couldn’t be more impressed that Marvel TV shows and films are in the same universe. Agents of SHIELD could really be great this season (and I’m really curious how Agent Carter will fit in) Kudos to ABC for giving it a second season. For all the times I’ve complained about my favorite shows getting cancelled, I’ll watch this just to support future nerd tv. Premiere: 9/23 ABC
The Flash – was really my first comic book hero to the point that he inspired me to become a runner when I was young. (While two marathons is a lot of inspiration, I wasn’t nearly as fast.) The original TV series came out when I was in college, and though a bit cheesy it was a lot of fun. Not only does this Flash look fun, special effects in the previews are fantastic. I’m pleased they are bringing back the original Flash John Wesley Shipp as Barry’s dad. My only issue is the costume. I’m hoping it gets destroyed in the first few episodes. Premiere: 10/7 CW
Arrow – My wife and I binge-watched most of the 46 episodes, which is a LOT of television for me. (A LOT!) It’s a little thick on the drama, but that’s more of an observation than a complaint. They do a great job of telling two stories simultaneously with the flashbacks to his past. Arrow is also gritty enough that it’s not cheesy. No boxing glove or chimney sweep arrows thank you! Premiere: 10/8 CW
Gotham – If I have any reservations about this list, it’s for Gotham. First of all, it’s on FOX, which tends to be the kiss of death for many nerd shows. (Firefly, Almost Human, etc.) So I’m wary to even invest the time. I also watch the Batman movies, and read the Batman comic books, because of Batman, who isn’t the focus of this series. That said, Smallville worked, but it was focused on Clark Kent, so we’ll see. I like the look of the show, the casting for the ‘bad guys’ is well done, and there is a lot they can do with the cast of characters they’ve already introduced in the preview. Premiere: 9/22 FOX
Constantine – DC and Marvel have both been struggling to figure out how to introduce their magic themed comics into the mainstream. I guess it’s easier to believe in super powers than magic? Or maybe just both at the same time? Marvel will be making the attempt with a Dr. Strange film, but I give props to DC for getting there first with Constantine. Based on the Vertigo comic Hellblazer, it was first made into a movie starring Keanu Reaves back in 2005. This time around he won’t smoke (broadcasting restrictions), and he’s not bisexual like the comics, because a morally questionable anti-hero battling demons would be a bad role model if he smoked and liked boys. Huh. Hopefully they don’t change too much because the preview does look pretty cool. Premiere: 10/24 NBC
DC has really stepped up their game with television, and they are wise to continue pursuing this. My only gripe is about continuity. I’m sure it has more to do with contracts than storytelling, but I hate that they can’t tie all of their movies and television shows into the same universe like Marvel. There is no reason that Arrow and Flash from television couldn’t show up in the Batman v Superman Justice League movie. I don’t know about you, but that’s some of the stuff that I geek out over.
What shows am I missing? I’m sure there are more than a few…what are you looking forward to this fall?
